The gameplay includes thirty-two circuits (sixteen brand new ones and sixteen retro ones) on which the characters race riding a variety of vehicles like the returning motorcycles or the karts, which can be customized. Players compete against each other, either online or offline, to achieve the fastest time.
The game offers six play modes featuring a new mode called Mario Kart TV in which you can create your own pictures and videos. The roster includes thirty characters from the Super Mario universe, twenty-one are returning from previous games and nine are new: Baby Rosalina, Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Larry Koopa, Pink Gold Peach, Morton Koopa Jr., Ludwig Von Koopa, Roy Koopa and Lemmy Koopa. Twenty-one power-ups are included in this game featuring new ones like the Boomerang Flower, the Piranha Plant, the Super Horn and the Eight-crazy.
Mario Kart 8 was released on May 30, 2014 for the Wii U console.